Reporter's Toolbox
Reporter’s Toolbox
Connect with your fellow education reporters and workshop your story ideas.
State of the Education Beat
A Field With a Future
Education journalists have the critically important task of informing the public about education at the local, state, and national levels. But little is known about this sector of the news media. What does this workforce look like? Do education journalists believe their work matters? Are they satisfied in their jobs? What challenges does the field face to better informing public dialogue on education?
EWA Reporter Guides
Reporter Guides are how-to documents on best practices for education journalists.
Story Labs are blueprints for tackling complex topics: Essential background, research to consider, questions to ask, sources to tap, and story ideas to steal.
Tip Sheets
The Education Writers Association offers tip sheets with story ideas, reporting, advice and lists of resources on a variety of education topics and journalistic skills.
Help Is at Hand, When You Need It
You’re on deadline, and you want to know if the new report that plopped on your desk comes from an organization with an agenda. You have a simple question you want answered fast, or a complex project you want to talk through. You’re new to the beat and having trouble getting officials, or middle schoolers, to talk to you. Or you’ve been on the beat forever and are dying for a new take on the snow-day story, the budget-rollout story, or the perennial story about college-admissions angst.
Whatever your needs, the public editor will be there to help.
Multimedia
A variety of interviews, keynotes and panel discussions with journalists, experts and newsmakers.
The Glossary of Education Reform
For Journalists, Parents, and Community Members
The Glossary of Education Reform (edglossary.org) is a public, online resource that defines and describes major terms, concepts, and strategies in public-education reform. The website was created by the Great Schools Partnership in collaboration with the Education Writers Association and the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.
Don’t let the sticker price fool you
Don’t let the sticker price fool you.
The updated 2018 version of the web tool shows what students really pay for college, based on their family income.
Search for the cost trends and real prices of more than 3,800 colleges and universities in the United States. And check out quality indicators like graduation rates and diversity.
Journalist Members Listserv
EWA Journalist Membership is required to join the listservs.
EWA has a listserv focused on P-12 education and another focused on postsecondary.
Topics on both lists are wide-ranging. The listservs are great places to find sources in a hurry, or to pick your colleagues’ brains about reporting strategy.
To Join
If you are a working journalist and an EWA Journalist Member, you are welcome to join either list. Please fill out this application form to apply.
To Be Removed or Change Your Listserv Settings
If you’re already on a listserv and you’d like to be removed or change your settings, follow these listserv instructions.
Etiquette
As a listserv member, there are a few items of agreed-upon etiquette. Please review the listserv guidelines.
New to the Beat?
If you’re new to journalism, or if you’re a veteran reporter covering education for the first time, here are a few quick resources to get you up to speed.
Reporting Fellowship Program
The EWA Reporting Fellowship provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects. The EWA Reporting Fellows are selected by EWA through a competitive application process. Each fellow receives a financial award to support an education reporting project, as well as other assistance.
New to the Beat Program
The Education Writers Association offers a unique opportunity to support reporters who are new to the education beat. The next opportunity to participate is expected to be in the fall of 2019.
The New to the Beat program blends specialized programming at EWA’s National Seminar with ongoing, customized assistance. Each participant will be paired with a veteran journalist who will serve as a mentor for six months.